The Abraham Lincoln Monument in Lincoln Park is one of the oldest public sculptures in Chicago. "This monument is considered to be the most significant and influential 19th Century sculpture of Abraham Lincoln, and has become one of America's iconic images of our great Civil War President," said Commission on Chicago Landmarks Chairman David Mosena. Its designation as a landmark further commemorates "the historic contributions Lincoln made to the United States."
Completed in 1887, the monument is the work of two distinguished designers, sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens and architect Stanford White, and is an outstanding example of their collaboration. Saint-Gaudens is considered one of the finest sculptors in American history and a master of portraiture. White was a partner in the influential architectural firm of McKim, Mead and White, and designed many important buildings in the Classical Revival style.
It is popularly known as "Standing Lincoln" to distinguish it from a later monument to Lincoln, also by Saint-Gaudens and White, located in Grant Park.
The larger-than-life statue is a combination of naturalistic appearance, sharp portrayal of personality, and Classical idealization that was innovative and influential to many American sculptors. Its location, in the southwest corner of Lincoln Park at the end of North Dearborn Parkway, has made it a visual gateway into the park for generations of Chicagoans.
The monument consists of two major components: the statue itself and its architectural setting. The 11-½ foot high bronze statue is situated atop a 7-foot grey granite pedestal. Behind Lincoln is a Classical-style "Chair of State," meant to represent the Presidency.
The monument is set within an oval Classical-style "exedra," or high-backed bench, open to the south and set atop a stone foundation several steps above the surrounding park. Selections of Lincoln's speeches are carved on the outside wall of the exedra.
In 1881, Chicago lumberman Eli Bates left $40,000 in his will to pay for this statue of Lincoln. It was unveiled in a ceremony on October 22, 1887, attended by thousands of spectators, including Lincoln's son and grandson. |
